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bhairavshivaashtakamshankaracharya

Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam in Bengali

বাংলা

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Bhairav Ashtami, Saturday evenings, or during Kashi pilgrimage·🎵 Audio included·📜 Composed by Adi Shankaracharya
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Origin & Story

Composed by Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · 8th century CE

Shankaracharya composed this ashtakam in Kashi (Varanasi) at the Kaal Bhairav temple, one of the most ancient and powerful temples in the holy city. Kaal Bhairav is considered the fierce guardian deity of Kashi — tradition says no one can live in Kashi without his permission, and he judges the karma of all who die there, determining their fate in the afterlife.

✦ As told in scripture

According to the Shiva Purana, when Shiva manifested as Bhairav and cut off Brahma's fifth head (which had spoken arrogantly), the skull of Brahma stuck to Bhairav's hand as the sin of brahmahatya (killing a brahmin). Bhairav wandered the universe as a terrifying beggar, the skull stuck to his palm. Only when he reached Kashi did the skull fall — at the very spot where the Kaal Bhairav temple stands today. This made Kashi the one place in the universe where even the sin of killing Brahma is absolved. The ashtakam invokes this tremendous purifying power.

Listen & Chant Along

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

দেবরাজসেব্যমানপাবনাঙ্ঘ্রিপঙ্কজং ব্যালযজ্ঞসূত্রমিন্দুশেখরং কৃপাকরম্। নারদাদিযোগিবৃন্দবন্দিতং দিগম্বরং কাশিকাপুরাধিনাথকালভৈরবং ভজে॥

Devarajasevyamana Pavananghrpankajam Vyalayagyasutram Indushekharam Kripakaram Naradadi Yogivrinda Vanditam Digambaram Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi — whose purifying lotus feet are served by Indra king of gods, who wears serpents as sacred thread, the moon as crown, who is compassionate, worshipped by Narada and all yogis, who is sky-clad.

Verse 2

ভানুকোটিভাস্বরং ভবাব্ধিতারকং পরং নীলকণ্ঠমীপ্সিতার্থদাযকং ত্রিলোচনম্। কালকালমম্বুজাক্ষমক্ষশূলমক্ষরং কাশিকাপুরাধিনাথকালভৈরবং ভজে॥

Bhanukotibhasvaram Bhavabdhitarakam Param Neelakantham Eepsitarthadayakam Trilochanam Kalakalam Ambujakshm Akshashulamaksharam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — blazing like a billion suns, who helps cross the ocean of existence, the supreme one, blue-throated, three-eyed, granter of desires, death of death itself, lotus-eyed, imperishable.

Verse 3

শূলটঙ্কপাশদণ্ডপাণিমাদিকারণং শ্যামকাযমাদিদেবমক্ষরং নিরামযম্। ভীমবিক্রমং প্রভুং বিচিত্রতাণ্ডবপ্রিযং কাশিকাপুরাধিনাথকালভৈরবং ভজে॥

Shoolatanka Pashadanda Panimadikaranam Shyamakayam Adidevam Aksharam Niramayam Bheemavikramam Prabhum Vichitratandavapriyam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — holding trident, axe, noose and staff, the primordial cause, dark-bodied, the first god, imperishable, free from disease, of terrifying valor, who loves the wondrous cosmic dance.

Verse 4

ভুক্তিমুক্তিদাযকং প্রশস্তচারুবিগ্রহং ভক্তবত্সলং স্থিতং সমস্তলোকবিগ্রহম্। বিনিক্বণন্মনোজ্ঞহেমকিঙ্কিণীলসত্কটিং কাশিকাপুরাধিনাথকালভৈরবং ভজে॥

Bhuktimuktidayakam Prashastachaaruvigrahm Bhaktavatsalam Sthitam Samastalokavigrahm Vinikvanmanojnya Hemakinkini Lasatkantim Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — who grants worldly enjoyment and liberation, whose form is beautiful and praised, who is compassionate to devotees, established in all worlds, whose waist shines with golden bells.

Verse 5

ধর্মসেতুপালকং ত্বধর্মমার্গনাশকং কর্মপাশমোচকং সুশর্মদাযকং বিভুম্। স্বর্ণবর্ণশেষপাশশোভিতাঙ্গমণ্ডলং কাশিকাপুরাধিনাথকালভৈরবং ভজে॥

Dharmasetupaalakam Tvadharmamarganashakam Karmapasamochakam Susharmadayakam Vibhum Swarnavarneshesha Pasha Shobhitanga Mandalam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — protector of the bridge of dharma, destroyer of paths of unrighteousness, who frees from the noose of karma, who grants happiness, all-pervading, whose body shines adorned with golden serpents.

Verse 6

রত্নপাদুকাপ্রভাভিরামপাদযুগ্মকং নিত্যমদ্বিতীযমিষ্টদৈবতং নিরঞ্জনম্। মৃত্যুদর্পনাশনং করালদংষ্ট্রমোক্ষণং কাশিকাপুরাধিনাথকালভৈরবং ভজে॥

Ratnapaduka Prabha Abhirama Padayugmakam Nityam Adviteeyam Ishtadaivatam Niranjanam Mrityudarpanashanam Karaladamshtra Mokshanam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — whose pair of feet shine with gem-studded sandals, eternal, unique, the chosen deity, pure, destroyer of death's pride, who liberates with his fierce fangs.

Verse 7

অট্টহাসভিন্নপদ্মজাণ্ডকোশসন্ততিং দৃষ্টিপাতনষ্টপাপজালমুগ্রশাসনম্। অষ্টসিদ্ধিদাযকং কপালমালিকাধরং কাশিকাপুরাধিনাথকালভৈরবং ভজে॥

Attahasabhinna Padmajanda Kosha Santatim Drishtipata Nashtapapajaalam Ugrashashnam Ashtasiddhidayakam Kapalamalikaadharam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — whose thundering laughter shattered Brahma's cosmic eggs, whose mere glance destroys the web of sins, fierce ruler, granter of eight supernatural powers, who wears a garland of skulls.

Verse 8

ভূতসঙ্ঘনাযকং বিশালকীর্তিদাযকং কাশিবাসলোকপুণ্যপাপশোধকং বিভুম্। নীতিমার্গকোবিদং পুরাতনং জগত্পতিং কাশিকাপুরাধিনাথকালভৈরবং ভজে॥

Bhootasanghanayakam Vishalakeertidayakam Kashivasaloka Punyapapa Shodhakam Vibhum Neetimargakovidam Puratnam Jagatpatim Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaning:I worship Kaal Bhairav of Kashi — leader of the hosts of spirits, bestower of vast fame, who purifies the sins and merits of all who dwell in Kashi, all-pervading, knower of the path of righteousness, ancient lord of the universe.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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কালভৈরব🔊KalabhairavaThe terrifying lord of time — fierce form of Shiva
কাশিকাপুরাধিনাথ🔊KashikapuradhianathaLord of the city of Kashi (Varanasi)
ভজে🔊BhajeI worship
পাবনাঙ্ঘ্রিপঙ্কজং🔊PavananghrpankajamWhose lotus feet are purifying
দিগম্বরং🔊DigambaramSky-clad (naked ascetic)
ভানুকোটি🔊BhanukotiBrilliance of a million suns
ত্রিলোচনম্🔊TrilochanamThree-eyed
শূলটঙ্ক🔊ShulatankaTrident and axe
ভুক্তিমুক্তি🔊BhuktimuktiWorldly pleasure and liberation
ধর্মসেতু🔊DharmasetuBridge of dharma (righteousness)
কর্মপাশমোচকং🔊KarmapasamochakamOne who frees from the noose of karma
মৃত্যুদর্পনাশনং🔊MrityudarpanashanamDestroyer of death's pride
অষ্টসিদ্ধি🔊AshtasiddhiEight supernatural powers
কপালমালিকা🔊KapalamalikaGarland of skulls
ভূতসঙ্ঘনাযকং🔊BhootasanghanayakamLeader of the ghosts/spirits

Benefits of Chanting Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam

Kaal Bhairav is the kotwal (police chief) of Kashi — he guards the holy city

Destroys fear, removes karmic bondage, and conquers death itself

Grants both bhukti (worldly enjoyment) AND mukti (liberation)

Chanting in Varanasi is considered especially powerful

Removes the most severe sins and obstacles

Grants the eight supernatural powers (ashta siddhi)

How to Chant Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam

Repetitions8times
Best TimeBhairav Ashtami, Saturday evenings, or during Kashi pilgrimage

Face south (Bhairav's direction). Light a mustard oil lamp. Offer black sesame. Chant all 8 verses — each ends with 'Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje' creating a powerful rhythmic affirmation. On Bhairav Ashtami or Kalashtami, chanting 8 times is especially powerful.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam written in the Bengali script (বাংলা) — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character into Bengali so West Bengal devotees can read and chant it comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud, and the Roman (IAST) transliteration is shown beneath each verse for pronunciation.
Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.
Kaal Bhairav is the fierce, fearsome form of Lord Shiva. He is considered the kotwal (guardian/police chief) of Kashi (Varanasi). 'Kaal' means time/death, and 'Bhairav' means terrible — he is the terrible lord of time who conquers death itself.
Adi Shankaracharya composed the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam during his visit to Kashi. Each of the 8 verses ends with the refrain 'Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje' — I worship Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi.
According to legend, when Lord Shiva cut off one of Brahma's five heads, the skull stuck to his hand. He wandered as a beggar until he reached Kashi, where the skull fell — making Kashi the place of liberation from even the greatest sin. Kaal Bhairav has been the guardian of Kashi ever since.
This page gives the complete Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam lyrics in English transliteration alongside the original Sanskrit (Devanagari), verse by verse, with the meaning of every verse in English and Hindi — all eight verses plus the concluding phala-shruti.
Reciting the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam is said to destroy fear — including the fear of death — remove sins, grant protection from negative energies and black magic, and bestow the grace of Kaal Bhairav, the guardian of Kashi and the lord of time. It is especially recited on Bhairav Ashtami, on Sundays and on Kala Ashtami days.

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